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Statewide Coalition to Launch “Make Health Happen” Campaign At State Capitol Press Conference Thursday, January 8; Group to Lay Out Plan for Health Coverage For All Minnesotans

Media Advisory – Event January 8

St. Paul - A coalition representing 350,000 Minnesotans will launch its “Make Health Happen” campaign to reform the state’s health care system, which now leaves hundreds of thousands of state residents without health coverage and many thousands more underinsured.  
 
The press conference will take place on Thursday, January 8 at 10 a.m. in room 125 of the State Capitol.  At the event, coalition members, lawmakers and supporters will outline how costly it is for Minnesota to leave 375,000 residents, including 77,000 children, without coverage and they will discuss legislation to

Two Day Strike a Success, Regina Medical Center Workers Continue Struggle for Affordable Healthcare and Retirement Security for Hastings' Working Families

Regina Strike - BM

Hastings, MN – After completing a successful two day unfair labor practice strike, more than 230 nursing assistants, physical therapy aides, x-ray aides, housekeepers, dietary workers, medical transcriptionists, operating room aides, patient care technicians. and other caregivers at Regina Medical Center are planning their next steps in their fight for justice for all working families.

2-Day Unfair Labor Practice Strike at Regina Medical Center

Members at Regina Medical Center strike for affordable healthcare, livable wages and secure retirements

 On Monday, November 24th, with only three days until Thanksgiving, SEIU Members at Regina Medical Center show Mark Wilson, CEO how important the current contract negotiations are, not only for them but for all working families; they will stand up and fight for what they deserve as healthcare workers. They will not stand for less than they have already won.

As SEIU members at Regina Medical Center fight for livable wages, secure retirements and affordable healthcare on Monday they find themselves amongst many supporters.

At the noon rally outside Regina among those to show their support were St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Senate Asst. Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and MNA President Linda Slattengren.

The 2-day strike on Monday, November 24th and Tuesday, November 25th takes place from 6:00am - 7:00pm; all SEIU Members who are able are encouraged to stop by and show their support.

United we Stand; Together we Fight!
 Regina Strike

Regina Strike 11.24

Regina Strike 11.24


Regina story in the Hastings Star-Gazette

Union members vote to Strike at Regina Medical Center

http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/articles/index.cfm?id=18733§ion=news

Make a Dream a Reality

Rebecca Kosbab

At age 64 I had never been involved in politics before except to vote—only paying attention to the basics about the candidates. My brother, who is always involved in politics and an author of several books on environmental law, started sending me information and excerpts about Barack Obama. He commented that one day MAYBE he would run for president. I was also impressed that he seemed to have a vision for America that was really significant...


...I must have inherited my father’s “deep identification with the working class” which caused me to become totally involved in Barack Obama’s campaign for President of the United States. I never realized the connection until I recently re-read my father’s recollections. Before that I kept saying “I honestly can’t even describe what is happening to me”. But I now see that the crisis American people faced  made me feel desperate to try to do something about it before it was too late. And my father and grandfather's concern for "the working class and the underdogs in society" was also alive in me.

Minnesotans would take big hit under McCain health plan, study finds

workday Minnesota

ST. PAUL - Many Minnesotans rely on employer-paid health insurance, meaning residents of the Gopher State would be hit especially hard by new taxes proposed in Republican candidate John McCain's health care plan, according to a new report. More than 60 percent of Minnesotans – some 3.1 million people – receive health benefits though work, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The health plan proposed by McCain eliminates the employer health care tax benefits that enable many companies, especially small businesses, to provide group insurance to their employees.

September General Membership Meeting - Montevideo, MN

Report from Executive Vice President Jigme Ugen

We had a fantastic meeting in Montevideo that included members from Luther Haven and the Chippewa County Medical Center.  Together, we focused on plans to bring the power of 17,000 healthcare workers statewide to bear on negotiations at Luther Haven and expanding our power in Montevideo as the clinic workers united with us.

We also continued our planning as an Executive Board to hold politicians accountable after the election.  It's not enough for politicians to make promises to working people--they need to follow through.  In 2009, SEIU's two million members will be making sure that Congress passes, and the President signs, legislation to provide quality healthcare to every man, woman, and child in America and provide all workers the free choice to join a union.

Our union has had tremendous success through 2008, especially with standard-setting contracts at Allina and HealthPartners.  By staying focused and strong, we will make 2009 a history making year for healthcare workers and America.

2,000 Technical and Service Workers at the Mayo Clinic and other Southeast Minnesota Facilities Unite with Us

Workers at 4 hospitals vote by a 95% majority to join with us in SEIU Healthcare Minnesota

On Wednesday, August 20th, 2,000 technical and service workers at the Mayo Clinic and other hospitals across Southeast Minnesota voted YES! to be a part of our movement for working families in Minnesota.

Together, we are now more than 17,000 strong for quality, affordable healthcare, a secure retirement, wages that can support a family, and strong communities.

Fairview Southdale LPNs Speak Out Against Age Discrimination

Nurses File Age Discrimination Claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

SEIU and its Partners in the Healthcare for America NOW! Coalition Present "Health Insurance Rules"


Can you imagine anything more absurd than insurance company execs leading a 'protest' about the fact that people can't get insurance? Talk about chutzpah. But then, the insurance industry is used to making up it's own rules about what's ok.

Check out this video which everyone on the Internet is watching -- it shows them in their full glory.

After watching the video, click here to tell our politicians 
that The first order of business for the new President and Congress in 2009 should be to pass health care legislation that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all.

Anti-Free Choice Ad Exposed

WCCO's Pat Kessler debunks a deceptive ad put out by big business that criticizes Al Franken for standing up for worker's rights

Justice for All. Pass it On.

2008_SEIU_Convention

14 SEIU Healthcare Minnesota members stand together with nearly 2,000 delegates at the 2008 SEIU International Convention in setting “Justice for All” plan for our 2 million member union

SEIU Healthcare Members On Hand as Obama Speaks to Working Families in St. Paul

Presumptive Democratic Nominee Will Stand With Working People to Bring the Change We Need

ObamaJune 3rd was a historic day for our country and our Union. 

SEIU-endorsed Barack Obama became the first African American in the history of our country to be the presidential nominee of one of the major parties.

And SEIU Healthcare Minnesota members were on hand to witness history...






Barry_Washington_Obama

Barry Washington, Jr.

Abbott Northwestern

June 3rd  will be a day I always look back on and say I was there for something that my Granddad said he would never see.  For him to get a chance to see this great change in our country makes me feel like there is HOPE.  So, I am very happy we as SEIU members backed Barack Obama for President of the United States.


Marty_Kelvin_Obama

Marty Fossen & Kelvin Clark, Sr.

Abbott Northwestern

We as union members are headed in the same direction as Barack Obama and that’s change.

--Kelvin Clark, Sr.

I was so happy to be a part of June 3rd’s historic event in St. Paul, we need change in America and I believe Obama is the change that will serve us all, union and non-union across America.

--Marty Fossen

Click here to stand with other working families and help elect Barack Obama


Bolder, Stronger, United: First Gathering of the Newly Elected Executive Board of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota

natalie_jackson

Natalie Jackson, Aspen

Our first meeting as a new Executive Board was groundbreaking.

Collectively, we made a commitment to each other and every member of this union that we will act with clarity and purpose to win for workers.


“You have no idea how different this meeting was from previous board meetings.  This is a collection of member leaders with a commitment and purpose to winning for workers that I haven’t seen before.”

--Natalie Jackson, Trustee, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota Executive Board, Aspen

U.S. Senate Candidate Al Franken Walks in the Shoes of SEIU Nursing Home Worker Ulysses Bridges

Walk a Day in My Shoes--Bridges & Franke

Al Franken Walks a Day in Ulysses Bridges' Shoes

As part of SEIU’s program to ensure politicians experience firsthand what life is like for working Americans, U.S. Senate Candidate Al Franken worked alongside Certified Nurse Assistant and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota member Ulysses Bridges to see what a day of caring for nursing home patients is really like.

Watch what Ulysses and Al Had to Say About the Day


Al Franken Walks a Day in Ulysses Bridges' Shoes

Get Out of the Passenger Seat - It's Our Time to Drive

Lori Theim-Busch

Lori Theim-Busch

No matter your political persuasion, we can all agree that today's national dialogue on the future direction of our country is high stakes. If we expect these presidential candidates to start offering solutions, it's up to us to push them.